Loren Dean Greenawalt: 1953-2008
December 22nd, 2008
My father, Loren Greenawalt, passed away on Saturday, December 20th. My wife, Rebekah, took this picture of him one of the last times he came to town, and I know he would have loved this as a memorial. He was truly the most amazing, naturally gifted musician I’ve ever known and a loving person, and we’re praying that our children will inherit just some of his wonderful talent when they are born.
Truly touching, Jeremy. I’m praying for you, buddy!!
This is the most amazing picture of Larry I have every seen. It captures the exxence of who he was. I will miss him.
Larry we will miss you! Our prayers for your entire family during this time.
My daughter is 2 and half years old, and would come home from pre-school and talk about ‘Mr. G’ and would sing the songs he had performed that day. I never met him, but he was a great musical influence on my child and he will be missed.
Loren- known to us as Larry here in Austin, Texas where he spent a number of years of his life–was one of the first people I met and became friends with here where I call home. I’ll never forget the first time we met, he and the ever youthful Karen Kohler were singing at a cafe in West Austin, where they played everything from Marlene Dietrich to the wonderful Boswell Sisters. We all felt a deep connection to the music of that era and spent many hours talking, laughing, and listening. I also had the pleasure of knowing both his parents–Ramona and Stan– and loved spending time at Esther’s Follies with all of them. It was a tradition when they visited Austin to eat, play Chicken Foot and go see Esther’s. It’s hard to believe they are all gone now.
To Larry’s son Jeremy, know that your dad thought you hung the moon and stars. He told me so often how proud he was of you and that you were growing up to be a fine young man. But Larry left behind so many “other kids,” who will grow up to know music and laughter from knowing Mr. G. And, what a fine legacy that is.
Our son is also two and a half, and he loved Mr G. He came home positively bubbling every time Mr. G visited his daycare (and very happy to dance his patented “arms way up high and rear out” dance.) We will miss him very much–as will all the kids whom he introduced to playing and to singing their hearts out.
Dear Jeremy,
When I knocked on your Dad’s door in Austin with a ratty old suitcase of strange songs from 1920s German cabaret and obscure American jazz in 1994, I had no clue what I was supposed to do with them. They just showed up and stirred something in me. With him I got a clue. He left such an indelible mark on my craft. He taught me that it was not only okay but sometimes terrific to make mistakes in live performance. He was always very free and open with his feelings and consequently one of the people who opened me up, on-stage and off.
We loved each other very much as you know. My whole family loved Larry. And Robert and I have had a mixture of smiles and tears all day and send you much love. We felt Larry very close to us all day. I last had contact with him in November and I’m so glad of it!
I know he will always be near me in spirit, especially when I sing. But you were his pride and joy!
Love, Karen
Dear Jeremy,
Your dad, or Mr. G, as he was known at Annie’s Childcare here in Ann Arbor was a beautiful part of our lives for over a year. Our little son Ambrose Kelley (2 years 3 months) was always front and center when Mr. G came to play music. Ambrose would be singing “I Know a Chicken” (The Shaky Egg song) when we picked him up. This, and the Gooey Duck Song are still his favorites. He loved your dad so much that we bought him a guitar and he plays for us throughout the day, singing songs that we know and songs that we don’t know, but that all came from your dad to our son and into our lives. Essentially your dad gave Ambrose his first real music and man, that sounds like forever to me.
Our daughters (ages 2 & 7 months) attend Annie’s Childcare in Ann Arbor and loved when Mr. G. would come to visit. According to the staff our youngest gets a big smile on her face when she would see him & would wave her arms when Mr. G would sing. My oldest daughter loved “the shaky egg song” and always would get a smile on her face when she talked about Mr. G. She would refuse to wash her hand (or arm) where Mr. G gave her stamp because it was from her friend, Mr. G. He will be severly missed by all of the children, the staff & parents. Mr. G will never be forgotten!
Loren Greenawalt was know as Mr “G” here at Annie’s Children Center in Ann Arbor. He had been our music teacher for about five years; at all three schools. When he would enter a classroom the children’s faces would light up with pure joy. The preschoolers new the days he came and anxiously awaited them. Loren had a way of making every child feel comfortable and involved in each music class. It didn’t take long for giggles and the sound of little singing voices to echo from a classroom he was teaching in. We will miss him dearly and our hearts go out to his family. Loren was someone who touched many lives, his memory will always live on.
My condolences to you and yours. My 2-year-old son also attends Annie’s Center, and he absolutely loved it when Mr. G visited the class. When I met him last week, Mr. G was very gracious, and described my son’s enthusiasm to dance as soon as the music started. I’m sure a lot of that enthusiasm came from Mr. G himself. He will be sorely missed.
Your father was a wonderful human being, who brought music and joy into the lives of all the children at Gretchen’s House. He was a kind soul to all he met. In several conversations he spoke to me about his love for his own children and how proud he was. He will be missed. Many parents and staff at Gretchen’s House are asking about services. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
My boys also attended Annie’s Children’s Center and Mr. G was certainly a highlight to their day when he was there. My son Henry absoultely loved him and would chat with him about how he played his own (his dad’s) guitar at home. He was also very excited to display the fun stamps he got. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform several times, and the children really did love him. He will be missed.
An awesome photo indeed. In 1985 your father convinced me to step out in faith and create an educational program for preschoolers similar to his but in the area of gross motor skills. His encouragement opened the door for me to experience the delight of teaching young children. He truly was a gifted musician with a special talent for instilling the love of music in young learners.
The picture of Larry is wonderful. I hadn’t seen him in several years, but thought of him every time I played one of his CDs. Larry and I met in dance class and he was always my favorite cha-cha partner. His great sense of rhythm and enthusiasm made every dance a pleasure. He spoke often of his work with young children. It gave him great joy. With my mom’s help I made him a bag to carry his drums for the kids from school to school. It was a fun project for us and Larry often told me how much he liked it. That was Larry through and through. He always shared his feelings and joie de vivre. I will miss him very much.
I hadn’t seen Larry in years, but the memories from the times that we knew him were good ones. I am sorry for your loss and all the difficulties.
Dear Jeremy,
Please, accept our condolences. Your father was certainly a bright star in my daughter’s life. He would come and sing at Annie’s and energize the entire daycare with songs, laughter and motion. Minea is only 4, and he did teach her how to sing, listen, and appreciate music for which we are thankful to him. He will be dearly missed by our family. His positive energy, sense of humor, and love for children will always be with us.
Dear Jeremy,
Thank you for setting up this blog. There was great shock and sadness that overwhelmed our family when we heard of Mr. G passing. We had just had 3 fun-loving awesome holiday gatherings with him a few days earlier…we all had a great last concert with Mr. G at Annie’s. There will be no other musician we could bring into the centers who could even come close to the gentle, energetic, loving, talented….Mr. G! Thank you for sharing your father with the many children, parents and staff of Annie’s.
Mr. G is a man whose memory will be with the children (and adults)forever!
Jeremy:
I don’t know where to start. Your daddy & I go back to 1973. He was my all time favorite accompanist. After 21 years without contact, we spent the last four months in intense, loving conversations that were fun, truthful, painful and helpful. The last words he said to me were in regard to a song we used to do. I asked him if he remembered it, and wrote a few of the lyrics. He responded, “Do you still do it in the key of F?” May God’s comfort be yours in abundance.
Renee
I cannot begin to tell how precious the memories I was gifted with the past four months as Larry and I reconciled and came to a true appreciation and love for each other. My most precious memory came Sept 1st – the last time I saw Larry. He came to visit our son his wife Rebekah and the four of us went to dinner. But before dinner he came to see my apt and meet my roommate and play his favorite electronic piano, a Yamaha. But he insisted he would only play if I sang. So for the first time in nearly 25 yeara Larry and I sang together. It was a gift to me and to Jeremy and Rebekah which I belive we will cherish forever – I know I will. Three days later I nearly died in the ER of heart failure and Larry began emailing me with words of encouragement, gratefullness for our relationship restored, and times of laughter as I went through open heart surgery. I can honestly say I loved Larry. I’m just so very sorry our reconciliation was cut short – very short.
Kathleen (Greenawalt) Gabrielle
Loren,
You left them all wanting more………peace.
Ted
“Mr. G” as we know him will forever be missed. I am a toddler teacher at Gretchen’s House in Ann Arbor. My first day at work was a “Mr. G” day and I was thrilled when he began singing with the toddlers. His puppet “Rosco the turtle” was a favorite and the children requested to see him at every visit. He was always smiling, always bright and cheery, and he loved watching the kids dance and jump when he sang “Shakey Egg”. We took a picture together with him the last time we saw him, and I will be sure to get that to you soon. Thank you Mr. G for your great personality and passion for music, we will miss you.
Dear Jeremy,
I’ve been in shock and tears since I got the news. Larry was so dear to me, and I am so blessed to have been his friend for 15 years, but I am not ready or willing for him to be gone from my life. He was my closest man friend.
Larry was one of the reasons I loved Trinity UMC when I first found it; he walked me down the aisle to join; he played and sang at my wedding ten years ago; we had long visits whenever we could, with phone calls in between. His friendship was irreplaceable and I will miss him forever.
Please let me hear from you – any time you are free, I want to hear how you and your family are doing, and to talk more about him. Blessings and hugs, Barbara Lightheart 1/2/09
We knew Loren only for a little while at my church (Northside Presbyterian-Ann Arbor) but he became a part of our church family the first time he entered our door. He made wonderful music on our newly donated organ and brought us all much joy playing our grand piano. We’ll miss his music, his wonderful smile, and most of all his grace filled liveliness. We are blessed to have known him and will miss him.
To the family of “Mr. G”,
I am a staff member in the class of three year olds at the downtown
Annie’s Children Center. Mr. G was a delightful, musical and funny visitor to our classroom. He was able to engage up to 17 three year olds in singing, dancing and marching all while giving them freedom to be silly! The kids did love his turtle who was shy and sleepy but the children woke him up and got him talking. I was shocked and saddened to hear of Mr. G’s death but so glad the children in Annie’s school were able to take part in his musical fun. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Jeremy-
I knew your dad in Florida. We met in 1974. I seem to recall he was also from Indiana which gave us transplanted northerners a quick connection. I played keyboards as well – just not nearly as well as Larry did. He was a couple of years older and always very kind. On more than one occasion I asked him about how he mentally processed his improvisation but he always said he couldn’t explain it – he figured God was playing through him. He had a great talent and a great heart. I’m glad for your tribute to him.
I knew Loren while living in the apartment above his a few years ago. He was the best neighbor one could have ever asked for. He would go far out of his way to be kind to me and my roommate, bringing us food and cookies (the best cashew butter cookies ever) and always willing to chat for a minute or an hour.
I could always count on hearing his beautiful music coming from downstairs.
Very sorry for his passing.
Larry officiated at my commitment ceremony. He was a part my family through our pregnancy and birth, and our daughter, Rayya, was enchanted by him (as were her moms!). My partner Melissa was Larry’s massage therapist for many years. I have always felt that Larry was like a tree in my family forest – we stood aboveground on our own, strong and tall and eventually miles apart, but underneath the soil our roots were always intertwined.
Larry touched the world with his light, and it will always shine brighter for having had him in it.
Just as an update, we will be having a memorial service for my dad, Loren (Larry) Greenawalt, this Saturday, January 31st, in Austin at Trinity United Methodist Church.
To Jeremy, Rebekah and Kathleen:
Hello folks, I just found out about Larry yesterday. I have been calling around trying to find him when he didn’t call me for the usual Christmas call. I tried again on his birthday when I realized something was wrong. My very deepest condolences. Larry was my very best friend and the closest thing to a husband I’ll ever have. I’ve been trying to call you, but figure you are still trying to deal with his passing.
I never would have learned to drive without Larry. I’m still driving one of his old cars. Larry helped me grow as a woman spiritually as well as professionally and personally in my life and I will never forget him. I truly loved your father like no other. I will try to carry on without him and will try to make him proud of the person he made me.
Larry brought so much life, love, light, and happiness in everyones’ lives that he touched. That I can see in the emails listed above. He will be sorely missed. I will forever miss him and think of him often. I am destroyed by this. May Larry watch over us and protect us as the angel he was.
Thank you Jeremy for having such a wonderful dad!!
Dear Jeremy,
This morning I just found out about your dad’s passing. I was most honored to know Larry when we lived in Austin. He even bought my red Nissan pick-up–which if I remember correctly you ended up with! In 2002 I was living alone in Austin and had to have some major abdominal surgery. Larry didn’t even ask, he just moved in and took over the household while I was healing. We spent almost every Friday evening together for over 10 years. I cooked, he ate with gusto. His spirit was infectious. He brought me back to God and to music and I will forever be grateful for his friendship and example. Larry showed me that love was to be given freely with no expectations of return.
We drifted apart in 2003 when I had to move back to Louisiana to care for my elderly parents. He was such a light in my life, and the lives of everyone. I know there are angels amoung us because of Larry.
He talked about you and your accomplishments often. He was very proud of you and believed in you and Rebekah. The world has lost a brilliant ray of sunshine. I miss him.